River Cruise on Loboc River

Fee: Php 550.00/head
Inclusion: river cruise, buffet lunch, live music entertainment, cultural performance by locals
Location : Floating Restaurant, Loboc (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines

Tourism Draw
Loboc's primary tourism draw is the river cruise along the famed Loboc River. It's usually packed even on weekdays. First time I was in Loboc in 2015, it was a 2-hour wait, so we bailed. Now, I finally get the chance to experience what all the hype is all about.

Demographics
Because of the downpour the night before, lunch crowd was still packed but the waiting time wasn't too long. Guests were mostly Asians - Chinese, Koreans, a few Japanese and some locals, arriving in white vans in a tour package. Every now and then, they get some Europeans - but not on this boat. It's mostly a mature crowd traveling in a group.

Lunch
Lunch was buffet served on a long table. Selection was decent and the food was good and adequate. I particularly liked the small crispy dilis on lettuce. The table got busy with everybody crowding into the food. By the time the boat started moving, most were done and could focus on the scenery. Over food, I tried making polite talk to the Japanese men I shared the table with - either they're not social or they have difficulty with English. At any rate, Asians are never comfortable when a stranger talks to them...even while traveling - in sharp contrast to Europeans.

Cruise
The boat had a smooth pace you wouldn't even feel it moving. I like the part that you couldn't hear the engine noise - usually, engine noise kills the ambience. Also, when there is an oncoming boat, you don't feel the wake. It was steady as she went. We passed by Loktob Spring but those who didn't know were oblivious to it. There were kids on the river bank resting on tree tops like they were hammocks. Otherwise, the scenery was the forest on both sides of the river.

Live Entertainment
I'm not sure if it would have been better to have a tour guide talk about the passing scene, "to your right is the Loktob Spring with its ice cold water....." or simply have the guy on the organ sing "Besame Mucho". Since some Chinese guests took the mic and turned the boat into a karaoke bar, I guess the latter is preferable - they probably understand little English anyway to make sense of what the tour guide would be saying.

Cultural Presentation
On a separate floating barge were locals all decked in traditional clothes who make extra money doing a cultural presentation. Our boat docked beside the barge and the locals did their song and dance number. There was no extra payment but tips were appreciated. Some guests participated in the tinikling dance while most of them took to their phone cameras for the memento shots. The guests were geniunely having a great time.

Busay Falls
Normally, when the boat reaches Busay Falls, it turns back already. But again, due to the downpour the night before, the water was high and the falls was kicking-up too much water. So, before we could see the falls, the boat had to turn back. Darn! This is my second chance to see Busay Falls and again, it didn't happen. The first time was on land when Jeffrey and I rode our mountain bikes. The trails stopped short of the falls with no land access. I was told the best way to see Busay Falls is through the river cruise. One day!

Ending Thoughts
Before it got old and tiring, the cruise was over. The one hour was just right to have lunch and cruise the river. Initially, I thought the P550/head was steep. Yes, it's still a lot of money for lunch, but considering it's a buffet lunch (which you pay ~P350 in the (city)), plus you get a river cruise with live music entertainment and a cultural presentation, it's not that bad. Perhaps you won't do it everyday, but as a one-time indulgence, it's worth the experience.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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Loboc Google Map

Loboc, Bohol, Philippines

tourist attractions

• Cruz Daku - 80-foot white cross erected in 1986 on top of Loboc's highest mountain
• Virgen de Guadalupe - giant statue of the Black Madonna perched on a Loboc summit
• River Cruise - river cruise on a floating restaurant serving lunch with cultural presentation
• Busay Falls - accessible only through the river cruise
• Loktob Spring - cold water spring, free admission, huts for rent
• Zipline and Cable Car Ride - at the Eco-Tourism Adventure Park

hotel

• Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
  Brgy. Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol

restaurant

• Villagio's Pizza - wood burning oven, hand-tossed pizza
  Loboc Town Plaza, Loboc, Bohol

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